IMO Audit Team scores NIMASA high on human resource, tasks agency on systems development

L-R: Alternate Permanent Representative of Nigeria to IMO, Mr. Dikko Bala, Member, International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) Hakon Stohaug, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Head, IMSAS team to Nigeria Captain Yalscin Cahit and another member, Wei Song during the submission of the preliminary audit report at the Head Office the Agency in Lagos.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been scored high on its human resource, which has been adjudged competent and committed to duty.

The appraisal came on Monday from the International Maritime Organisation Member States Audit Scheme (IMSAS) team that submitted an interim report after its week-long audit of the Nigerian maritime sector.

The team called on maritime stakeholders including NIMASA, to develop and formalize a long-term strategy for the implementation of IMO instruments in the country.

Presenting the interim report, the leader of the IMSAS team, Captain Yalscin Cahit urged the Agency to develop its systems, while noting that NIMASA has competent human resource that is also committed.

Cahit also drew attention to the need to fast-track enactment of regulations pursuant to IMO instruments for which Nigeria is party to, and noted that issuance of regulations was critical to enforcement of IMO instruments.

Noting that the interim report has 11 findings and one observation, Cahit emphasized the need for the Agency to respond within 90 days, to the findings and highlight the strategies being developed to remedy the gaps identified. He also highlighted positive strides being made by the Nigerian maritime sector.

Meanwhile, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, promised the IMSAS team that the Agency, together with other stakeholders were committed to the implementation of relevant IMO instruments for the overall development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

The DG said that the IMO Audit was in line with the vision of NIMASA, adding that the Agency would leverage on the findings and observation of the interim report to repositioning the Nigerian maritime industry for more efficiency and competitiveness.

While thanking the IMO Audit team to Nigeria for a thorough job done, Peterside assured the team that the Agency would take the report very seriously and in the next one year, most of the identified deficiencies will be drastically reduced if not completely eliminated.

“With the active support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation and the leadership of the Agency which is forward looking, focused and determined, Nigeria will certainly regain its lost glory in the comity of maritime nations. NIMASA will immediately settle down to work to address these findings”, the DG said.

The maritime industry audit is aimed at promoting consistent and effective implementation of applicable IMO conventions, resolutions and protocols among member nations as well as assists member states to improve their capabilities in the enforcement of these instruments for the overall benefit of global shipping.